Hydraulic ground-piercing machine



g-1,1950 E. J. KISS ETAL 2,517,494

HYDRAULIC GROUND-PIERCING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ha; I

417.13: I: :IEQ 24 5 26 22 28 23 a '75 76 59 e9 62.58 e4 3 Zlwuwwfmm Ernest .1 Kiss Harry a: Bro urn 1950 E. J. KISS ET AL 2,517,494

HYDRAULIC GROUND-PIERCING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 man 1 30 3 29 0 F, 1 9 Ernest Jlz'ss .36 -34 Harry Hf Brown Patented Aug. 1, 1950 HYDRAULIC GROUND-PIERCING MACHINE Ernest J. Kiss and Harry W. Brown, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to George E. Dunstan, Cleve.-

land, Ohio Application July 7, 1944, Serial No. 543,784

3 Claims. (01. 255-2) .1 -This invention relates to hydraulic groundpiercing machines for forcing a hole horizontally through the ground for the reception of a water pipe or the like and the installation thereof. The main object of the invention is to provide a machine of said character of greatpower and efficiency and quick action, which is capable of use in cramped spaces and convenient for transportation to and from the job and into and out of the basement of a building.

-Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character, which iseasily manipulated or controlled for actuating the piercing rod step by step in either direction. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character, which will automatically grip and release the piercing rod for advancing same step by step or for withdrawing the piercing rod from the opening made thereby. t

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character, which is not only capable of providing a hole through the ground by forward piercing action but also for return pulling therethrough for installation therein the water pipe or the like.

" With the above and other objects in view and for a clear understanding of the invention, the same will be hereinafter fully described with ref erence to the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be'particularly pointed out in the appendedjclaims." 'In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hydraulic ground piercing machine constructed in accordance with our invention and set up in the 'basementbf a building for piercing ahole through theground,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the gasoline engine being omitted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the piercing member attached to the first length of tubing by a coupling, r Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view inelevation of the hydraulic cylinder,

"Fig. 5 is an elevation of the box for containing the fluid and for housing and "supporting the pump, the reliefvalve and the control valve together with the piping connecting same, for actuating the hydraulic cylinder, the front side of the box being removed,

- Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig-5, the top ofthe Fig. 8 is a similar view. to Fig. '7, the collar and slip jaws of the chuck having been reversed for automatically gripping the length of tubing to cause withdrawalmovement of same,

Fig. 9 is an end view of the collar and slip jaws of the chuck,

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the control valve, and

Fig. 11 is a plansectional view taken ontline llltofFig.l0, A

Referring to the drawings, I represents the foundation of a building, 2 the basement floor, 3 the earth around the foundation and 4 a broken out opening through said foundation at the place of beginning for the piercing of the ground. This invention is designed especially to force a hole horizontally through the ground 3 for the purpose of receiving and laying a pipe extending from the water supply line under the street into the base;- ment of the building.

The means forforcing the hole horizontally through the ground consists of a hydraulic cylin der 5 having a forward head 6 and a rear head 1. The heads 6 and 1 are provided with central openings indicated at Hand 9, in which is slidably mounted a hollow piston rod It. For preventing leakage around the piston rod ID at the heads 6 and I, gland nuts H and I2 are provided, and suitable packing l3 therefor. Fixed by cross-pins at M or in any other suitable manner to the piston rod in for actuating same longitudinally is a piston l5, which is provided with packing rings at l 6 to prevent leakage. For actuating the piston l5, fluid under pressure is admitted alternately to each end of the cylinder 5 through openings l1 and I8 provided in the heads 6 and 1 thereof. The cylinder 5 is supportedby a base l9, which is provided with suitable openings 26 for receiving long pins or bolts as 2! adapted to be fixedwell into the ground or solidly into the floor for anchoring said cylinder securely in position. r

The hollow piston rod 10' is adapted to receive and impart longitudinal movement to a piercing rod indicated as a whole by 22, which is made up preferably of lengths of tubing :23 by adding length to length .as the piercing process progresses as willlater be described. To the forwardend of the first length of tubing 23 of the piercing rod22 is secureda suitable pointed member 24 for piercing the ground. The pointed member 24 is threaded at its shank end 25 and removably secured; by means of a coupling 25 or. in any other suitable manner to the forward projecting and threaded end 21 of thefirst length of tubing to, permit attachment thereof after said 3 length of tubing has been induced through the rear end of the hollow piston rod iii and also to permit the use of various types of points according to the nature of the ground to be pierced. Each length of tubing 23 is threaded at each end as at 2'! and attached to the preceding one by means of a coupling 28, after the latter length of piercing rod 22 by the hollow piston rod lwhen moving in the forward direction for forcing said piercing rod in the same forward direction and automatically releasing said piercing rod upon.

the return movement of said piston rod for leaving rod in its forward movement position, the -following described means is provided, The forwarclend of the hollow: piston rod i0 is threaded at 29 for removable attachment of the capof a chuck 30" having a. bore. 3|. and a central opening 32 through its outer end for the passage of the piercing rod 22; Arranged in the bore at of the cap 38 and held against thelend of the hollow piston rod l fi thereby is a collar 33 having an inwardly inclined surface 34 for receiving segmental slip jaws 35 having outwardly complemental inclined surfaces 36 and inside forwardly extending teeth 3'! for gripping the piercing rod 22. As the piston rod l0 moves forward, the slip jaws 35 are wedged into engagement with and their teeth 31 dig, into the piercing-rod 22 thereby causing forward. movement thereof; Upon the reverse or rear movement of the piston rod t0, the slip jaws 35 are permitted to move outwardly or radially and' thereby release said piercing rod', thus leaving same in its. forward movement position. After the piercing rod 22 has by. successive forward steps forced an opening through the ground from the basement to the. water supply line, the pointed member 24" is. disconnected and removed at the coupling and. copper, tubing or other conduit of the proper length indicated by 38'. is secured to said piercing red by means of said coupling or other suitable means for the purpose of drawing said copper tubing pling 28 and withdrawn from the rear end of said piston rod.

The means for alternately supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder 5 for actuating the piston l5, first in one direction and then in the other at the will of the operator, and thereby reciprocating the. hollow piston rod to and thus forcing the piercing rod 22 step by step through the ground, or for withdrawing the piercing rod step by step out from the opening made thereby, will now bedescribed.

A box 39 constructed of plate metal is divided by a, horizontal plate 40 forming a lower compartment at servingas a fluid tank and an upper compartment 42 forhousing and supporting the power producing, mechanism and control valve therefor.

Arranged transversely of the fluid tank 4| is a back through the opening made by the piercing is moved back and forth. until the. rear end of the last length of. tubing 23 of said piercing rod has passed therethrough and is no longer. gripped by the slip jaws for imparting forward movement to the piercing rod... Upon the next rear movement of thepiston rod It, the cap 3! will be in spaced relation to the end of; the piercing rod 22, whereby said cap may be removed, the collar and slip jaws. 35 reversed and said cap replaced. The rearward movement. of thepistonrod will now cause the slip jaws 35: to automatically grip the piercing rod 22 and thus exert pressure action thereon while the forward: movement of the piston rod' will cause: the. slip jaws to release the piercing rod, therebywithdrawing the pierceing rod in a step by step movement and at the same operation installing. the copper tubing in the ground. When installing the copper tubing 38, the lengths of tubing 23 as same pass successively through and out of the hollow piston rod ID are detached from each otherat the coudiaphragm 43 leaving over-flow space above the top thereof. The top of the box 39 is closed by a cover 64' andboltedithereto-at. 45 is a gasoline engine. 46 having a. power shaft. 41; carrying, a belt-wheel 48;. which drives abelt-49 and there.- by a wheel 50. fixed. to the. projecting end. 5i of the. shaft of suitable pump 52, which is located in the upper compartment. 42 of. thebox 39 and bolted at 53-. to thehori'zontal partition. plate thereof. Leading from. the fluid tank 41, to the pump 52. is an intake pipe: 54 and: from said pump an outlet pressure pipe 55 leading into a suitable relief valve 56, which bolted; at: 5-1 to the end of the upper compartment 42 ofthebox S9. Extending from theoutletof the. reliefvalve 56 to the central inlet portL58 of asuitable-foure way control valve- 59, whichis bolted at 605tothe side of the upper compartment 42, is an inlet pressure pipe 6!, Leading from and connecting one pressureoutlet port 62 of the four-way'control valve- 59 to the forward head port. ll of the hydraulic cylinder 5 is a suitable high pressure flexible hose 6'3, and leading from the connecting another pressure outlet port 64 of said fourway control valve to the rear head port l8- of said hydraulic cylinder is a similar flexible hose. 65. The four-way control valve 59=has a longitudinal bore 66' from which extends the central inlet port 58 and the pressure outlet ports 82 and 64, and also a pair ofend pressure relief or return ports 67 and 68' connected by a by-pass 69 from which. extends, a. central outlet port 10. A return pipe Tl leads from the port 10: of" the four-way control valve 59' to a pressure return pipe '12 leading from the. relief" valve 56 tothe fluid tank 4L. For controlling the. ports of" the four-way. valve 59 to direct. the fluid pressure to either. end of' the. hydraulic cylinder 5" at. the. will of the operator,. a pair of spools l3 and T4 fixed to a stemlfi are slidably mounted in thebore 66 of. said valve, and actuated by means of lever handle. l6=, whichis. pivoted at. 1'! to a bracket. T8 of said valve and to the end of the stem 15. at 19. The handle. 16. projects through. a suitable slot 86 provided in the coverv 413 of the. box 39.

In. practice, the hydraulic. cylinder. 5, the box 32 with oil in itslower compartment. 41, and the gasoline engine. All are transported to the. job as separate. units for convenient. handling in. and out of atruck and into. and removal from a basement. Said units are set up in a basement oppositea broken out portion as-at 4' of the foundation as shown, and the engine isgstai'tedwith the leverhandl'e 16 of the. control valve 59' in vertical and neutral position to insure no move.- mentof the piston d5 of thehydra-ulic cylinder 5. To the'first. length of piercing tubing; .23 inza; troduced fromtherearithrough the hollow piston rod ill, and to the forward projecting end thereof is attached the pointed piercinginemb er -24 by the coupling 26. When theeng'ine 46 is in operation and the lever handle it is in its vertical and neutralposition, the enginezdrives the pump 52 continuously and causes the oil from the tank 4| to enter the intake piper54,.- flow through the pipe 55, the relief valve 56, andfout by way of the return pipe .12 back to.v said tank! As no pressure isadmitted to..the cylinder 5, the: piston is and the piston rod I remain stationary.

For admitting pressure from the pump 52 to either end of the hydraulic cylinder 5 for actuating the piston rod Hi longitudinally in either a forward or rearward direction for producing a full or partial stroke thereof at the will of the operator, the lever handle 16 may be moved back and forth in the slot 80 of the cover 44. Depending upon the nature of the ground and the difficulty of penetration thereof by the piercing rod 22, the lever handle 76 may be manipulated to give the piston rod in a long or successive short strokes. Assuming that the piston I5 is at the rear end of the cylinder 5, and the operator desires the piercing rod to move forward, the lever handle 16 of the four-way control valve 59 is moved rearwardly, thus actuating the stem I5 and the spools l4 and 13 carried thereby in the same direltion and thereby opening the port 64 and admitting fluid pressure from the pump 52 by way of the pipe 55, the relief valve 56 and the pipe 6| to the hose 65 and to the rear end of the cylinder for forcing the piston forward. At the same time that the port 64 is opened, the port 62 is also opened to the bore 66 and the port 61, thereby permitting the escape of the pressure from the forward end of the cylinder through the hose 63 to the by-pass 69 and the pipes II and 12 to the tank 4|. The forward movement of the piston carries the piston rod III in the same direction and this movement causes the slip jaws 35 of the chuck 30 at the forward end of the piston rod to automatically grip the piercing rod 22 and thereby force same forward.

To relieve the fluid pressure at the rear end of the cylinder 5 and direct fluid pressure to the forward end thereof for forcing the piston l5 in the rearward direction, the lever handle 15 is moved forward. This will advance the spools 13 and 14, whereby the spool 14 will open the port 64 to permit escape of the fluid pressure from the rear end of the cylinder through the hose 65, the bore 56, the port 68, the by-pass 69, and the bypasses H and T2 to the tank 4i, and at the same time, the spool 13 will open the port 62 to admit the fluid pressure from the pump 52 by way of the pipe 6| through the port 58, the bore 66 and the hose 63 to the forward end of the cylinder for forcing the piston rearwardly. Upon the rearward movement of the piston rod, the slip jaws 34 automatically release their grip upon the piercing rod 22 and it remains stationary until the next forward movement of the piston. As the lengths of tubin 23 of the piercing rod 22 are forced step by step through the ground and finally pass one by one beyond the chuck 30 when in its retarded or rear position, other lengths of tubing are attached consecutively to the preceeding ones until the piercing rod is the required length for completing the opening through the ground. Upon completion of the opening, the pointed member 24 is detached from the piercing a rod 22, the collar 33 and slip jaws 35arezreversed after removal of the cap30, and the end-of a suite able'flength of copper tubing tobe installed-"in said opening isattached by areducer lil to thecoupling 26 of ,thepiercing rod for pulling said copper tubing back through the opening by the reverse manipulation of the lever handle 16 resulting in the reverse operations of thosedescribed in piercing theopening. l:

, From the above descriptionand in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is apparent this machine is well adapted for forcing an opening through the ground and the installing 'of a conduit therein by simple and easy manipulation of a control lever handle, and that it is designed for efiiciency and also convenient transportation to and. from the job and use in cramped spaces.

Having fully described our invention what we claim is:

1. In a ground-piercing machine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston rod slidably mounted in the cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, the piston being fixed to the piston rod for actuating same, said piston rod being hollow, a piercing rod in said piston rod, means for actuating the piston, a chuck including a cap, the cap being removably fixed to the forward end of said piston rod, the cap having an open end for the passing therethrough of said piercing rod, a collar in and held by said cap, the collar having an inwardly inclined surface, slip jaws having outwardly inclined surfaces arranged in said collar adapted to be forced into gripping said piercing rod upon forward movement of said piston rod and releasing same upon returning movement thereof, and said collar and said slip jaws being adapted to be reversed in said cap for causing the reverse gripping and releasing action to that first mentioned when said piston rod is moving in the rearward direction.

2. In a ground-piercing machine, the combination of a cylinder arranged in a horizontal position, a piston rod slidable in the cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, the piston being fixed to said piston rod for actuating same, said piston rod being hollow, a piercing rod in said piston rod, a pointed member removably attached to the forward end of the piercing rod, means for actuating said piston forward and rearward, a cap removably fixed to the forward end of said piston rod, the cap having an open end, a collar in and held by said cap, the collar having an inwardly inclined surface, slip jaws having outwardly inclined surfaces arranged in said collar for causing the automatic periodic gripping and releasing of said piercing rod upon each movement of said piston rod, which forces said piercing rod horizontally through the ground and then causes the automatic releasing thereof and thereafter causes a further forward advance of the piercing rod to the completion of the pierced opening through the ground.

3. In a ground-piercing machine, the combination of a cylinder arranged in a horizontal position, a piston rod slidably mounted in the cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, the piston being fixed to said piston rod for actuating same, said piston rod being hollow, a piercing rod in said piston rod, means for actuating said piston, a cap removably fixed to the forward end of said piston rod, the cap having an opening for the piercing rod, a collar in said cap, the collar having an inwardly inclined surface, slip jaws having outwardly inclined surfaces ar- 7;: mudzimsaifimoilanandcausedto beziorcediinto; grippinggsaid. piercing; rocla. upon forward...moxze.- mentsofgi said; piston, rod and;1e1ease same. upon returning: munementa, thereof: for. forcing" said:

Dimming; nod forward}, horizontally? step bystep- 5 through; the, ground tov pierce, an opening-.. for a; length of: tubing; and. said collar: anda sli -jaws zemavable and. reversablex and replaceablea as 2. unit; in said cap whereby saidautomatic,

ginning; and releasing of said-1 iercing rod by jaws: is; reversed; therebyr reversing: the;

diracm' 11:. Q2: said; step: lay-step forwardnmoxzementz Qf said: nielzqingi 1106;: for: installing; a;. length. 01?.

hubmzaimsaictlpiezcadomning: v v

-'. ERNEST:J.Killsfi;

BRQWN." 

